The Highlanders Hockey Club: GSHL Division 8 Champions 2003

The Highlanders, almost to a man, would tell you that prior to the season, we would have been happy to finish with a .500 record. For most of us, this was the first Hockey team (organized) that any of us had played on. For some of us, coming from the various drop-ins and clinics at Highland Ice Arena, our first game was the first time they'd even played "on the big ice". This was a truly unknown situation. We didn't know each other that well, didn't know hockey all that well, didn't skate all that well, and didn't have a clue how the whole "Hockey League" thing was going to pan out.

One of the few things that we did know was that we were going to have some really kick-ass uniforms, and we were going to have a ball, learning this game together, whatever the outcome. Captain Craig set the tone early on, by inviting everyone from practice to various watering holes. Aside from the obvious goal of drinking a few beers, these impromptu meetings helped the team come together. Most of the players knew just a few guys/gals from various sessions at Highland, but hanging out before and after practice, and after games, we got to know our teammates as family, which is huge, when you go to war with them every Sunday.

Speaking of war, Drill Sgt Nick, did one hell of a job in running our practices. He worked us, got us fired up, and single handedly changed the attitude of both practice time and game time. Without his organizational abilities, and huge windpipes, practices would have been haphazard at best, and quite possibly a waste of time. Nick brought us together in a more tribal sense, which absolutely contributed to the team's success.

Props to Tad as well, for being the driving force behind putting this whole thing together. Tad's one of those guys that you just can't explain. Runs his own business, plays Hockey and skates 5 nights a week (can you believe that as early as this past March, Tad had never skated before?), skateboards, runs sailboat races, you name it, this guys' all over it. His enthusiasm, and love of competition is infectious, and his desire to turn his hobby into a real team, was the spark that got the magic started.

Looking back on the season, it's amazing to see how we've all grown as players, and as people. There's nothing like a team sport to reinvigorate your innate sense of camaraderie. Being a part of team, especially one as close as we've become, is like having an extended family. You win, lose, fight, bleed, and drink as a unit. Going back to our first practices, and even before that to the clinics and drop-ins, and looking at us now, you can see a marked improvement in skill. You can also see a marked improvement in the level of play, and general awareness. Early on, we looked to score, we looked to make the big play, and we looked like deer in the headlights. In the championship game, we looked to pass, we looked to cover for our teammates, we looked to be in the right position, and we looked like the headlights coming at the deer. In short, we looked like a team. We grew as players, and we grew as family, together. Someone said at the bar after the game, that "Yah, it's just rec-hockey, but this was special ... something you'll be able to share with your grand kids, and something you'll never forget". Being part of a REAL team, and being part of a championship is something that we'll all carry with us.

So thanks, and props to all of The Highlanders .... the old fart, The not quite as old fart, the Sergeant, the backstop, the daddy, the blade runner, the jackal, mr smooth, the cannon, speed racer, the offsidesaholic, the student, the ankle breaker, the butt-rocker, dr funkenstein, the quiet one, the iceaholic, the enforcer, and the jackass.

Every one of you played an unbelievably important role this season. Nobody came here just play, everyone brought a little something to the table. Some of you are great teachers, others have skills that the rest of us aspire to, some lead by example, some teach forcefully, some bring experience, others enthusiasm. It's the weird mix of talent, personality, and 'tude that Make The Highlanders the very special "thing" that they are.

Congratulations on one hell of a season, folks ... and here's to many, many more

$10.00 to the first person to guess all the nicknames ;)